Self-closing umbrella



Patented July I2, I898. W. N. STEVENSON. SELF CLOSING UMBRELLA.

(Applicationv filed Dec. 31, 1897.)

INVENTORi- WILLIAM N.STEVENSON.

' ATTORNEY.

m: uonms PETERS co, PHOYO LITHO., WASHINGYON, n c.

ihvrrnb STATES ATENT FFlCE.

VILLIAM N. STEVENSON, OF SOUTH ORANGE, NEW JERSEY.

SELF-CLOSING UMBRELLA.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 607,141, dated July 12, 1898. Application filed December 31, 1897. Serial No- 665,141. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM N. STEVEN- SON, a citizen of the United States, residing at South Orange, Essex county, New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Self- Closing Umbrellas, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to improvements in self-closing umbrellas, and has for its object the provision of a simple, inexpensive, and effective means whereby the closing of the umbrella is mechanically effected, the locking means being released by the hand which grasps the handle, thus doing away with the necessity of using two hands in accomplishing this end.

My invention is illustrated by the accom-- panying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a sectional view showing in perspective the inside of the umbrella cover and frame and particularly the construction of the latter. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detailed view.

A is a rod having a suitable handle at its free or lower end. Near its upper end and pivotally connected in the usualmanner to said rod are ribs B B.

ribs 13, preferably between a pair of lugs B B. The stretchers E perform the function of levers, their long ends being connected to the runner at notch D, while their short ends E, Fig. 2, project beyond the point where the same is pivoted to the rib D, the pivotal connection with said rib forming the fulcrum for each lever.

F is a suitable spring. One end of each spring is anchored at B to the rib. The opposite end of each of said springs is connected to the short arm E of the combined leverstretcher E.

Gr is a detent in the rod A, which normally projects into the return path of the runner are old, one means being shown in my earlier patent, No. 580,917, of April 20, 1897, and therefore I desire to have it understood that any suitable means may be provided in place of that specifically shown.

The invention herein relates particularly to the means for closing the umbrella, and without departing from the spirit of my invention it is manifest that the form of spring may be suitably modified. The means shown, however, are simple in nature and permit the umbrella when closed to roll into very compact form, the size of the springs in actual practice being only approximately such as shown in Fig. 2. By the use of what is known as the octagon framethat is, a frame having corrugated ribs l3-and by placing the springs F adjacent said corrugation the latter are at all times very largely sheathed Within said corrugation, so "as to be inconspicuous, and, as above stated, permitting the snug and compact folding of the umbrella when not in use.

Operation: Assume the parts to be in the position indicated in the drawings. To close the umbrella, it is simply necessary to retract the detent G by means of the thimble H, at which instant the runner is forced downwardly on the rod A. by the action of the springs E upon the combined lever-stretcher arms, this being effected by the springs F, which when the parts are in the position indicated in Fig. 1 are under tension. As the runner D travels downward the ribs B move toward each other until they lie folded snugly against the rod A.

YVhat I claim is to the end of said arm to automatically close In a device of the character described, in said rib when released. 10 combination, a channeled rib having lugs in- Signed at New York this 13th day of Detegral therewith, a stretcher pivoted between cenlber, 1897. 5 said lugs and having" a short arm adapted to \VILLIAM N. STEVENSOV.

move Within said channel, a spring also in \Vitnesses: part within said channel and attached at one R. O. MITCHELL,

end to said rib and directly atthe other end JAMES S. ()S'WALD. 

